Steerable laser probe

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation mechanism of the handle, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may include a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. A portion of the optic fiber may be fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for performing an ophthalmic procedure comprising:
 actuating an actuation control in an actuation channel of a handle wherein the actuation control has an actuation control distal end and an actuation control proximal end and wherein the actuation channel has an actuation channel distal end and an actuation channel proximal end and wherein the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end; 
 actuating an actuation mechanism in an actuation mechanism guide of the handle wherein the actuation mechanism has an actuation mechanism distal end and an actuation mechanism proximal end; 
 extending the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end; 
 extending a single housing tube relative to a portion of an optic fiber that is fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube wherein the optic fiber has an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end; 
 compressing a first housing tube portion of a the single housing tube wherein the single housing tube has a housing tube distal end, a housing tube proximal end, and a second housing tube portion wherein the first housing tube portion has a first stiffness and the second housing tube portion has a second stiffness wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness; 
 curving the single housing tube; 
 curving the optic fiber to a first curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end; 
 fixing the optic fiber in the first curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end by aligning an actuation chamber of the actuation mechanism with a first static chamber of the handle and interfacing the first static chamber with the actuation chamber; 
 performing a photocoagulation procedure; 
 curving the optic fiber to a second curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end; and 
 fixing the optic fiber in the second curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end by aligning the actuation chamber of the actuation mechanism with a second static chamber of the handle and interfacing the second static chamber with the actuation chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  wherein the second curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end is greater than the first curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end. 
     
     
       3. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 extending the actuation control relative to the handle proximal end. 
 
     
     
       4. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 3  further comprising:
 actuating the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end. 
 
     
     
       5. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 extending the housing tube relative to the handle proximal end. 
 
     
     
       6. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 curving the optic fiber to a third curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end. 
 
     
     
       7. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 6  further comprising:
 aligning the actuation chamber of the actuation mechanism with a third static chamber of the handle. 
 
     
     
       8. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 7  further comprising:
 fixing the optic fiber in the third curved position relative to the housing tube proximal end. 
 
     
     
       9. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 extending the housing tube relative to a wire wherein the wire has a wire distal end and a wire proximal end. 
 
     
     
       10. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 straightening the optic fiber to a first straightened position relative to the housing tube proximal end. 
 
     
     
       11. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 10  further comprising:
 retracting the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end. 
 
     
     
       12. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 10  further comprising:
 straightening the housing tube. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 10  further comprising:
 retracting the actuation control relative to the handle proximal end. 
 
     
     
       14. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 13  further comprising:
 actuating the actuation control proximal end towards the actuation channel proximal end. 
 
     
     
       15. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 decompressing the first housing tube portion. 
 
     
     
       16. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 aiming the optic fiber distal end at a surgical target. 
 
     
     
       17. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 curving the optic fiber at least 45 degrees. 
 
     
     
       18. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 17  further comprising:
 curving the optic fiber at least 90 degrees. 
 
     
     
       19. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  wherein the first housing tube portion has a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
       20. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of  claim 1  wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end.